[sacredbat]

Very simply I want to work in a hedge fund. I am studying the wrong degree (Medical Sciences) at Leeds and expect to gain a mid 2.1. I have just finished second year and am about to start a study abroad year in Sweden in a very low ranked University (Halmstad). Basically doing this as a gap year.

How do I get my foot in the door? I have a reasonably strong background in maths, physics and economics (equivalent to an average undergraduate who has just finished first year). Obviously I have no proof of these statements but then again why would I lie. I currently trade currencies profitably, don't know if this helps at all.

Anyway I have a year out to do stuff before my final year at Leeds, whats the best route for me to take to get to work in a hedge fund?

Is it possible for me to get on a MSc course in financial mathematics? Or would my application be chucked in the bin.

Thanks for any help.

xxx

[residentmaths101]

I can only answer your question regarding the MSc in Financial Mathematics. Your undergraduate degree would need to be in a highly numerical subject, and medical sciences is definitely not strong enough to qualify. Sorry for being so blunt.

[sacredbat]

In Sweden I am going to study multi variable calculus, would this go any way to helping?

[crcr]

(Original post by sacredbat)
Very simply I want to work in a hedge fund. I am studying the wrong degree (Medical Sciences) at Leeds and expect to gain a mid 2.1. I have just finished second year and am about to start a study abroad year in Sweden in a very low ranked University (Halmstad). Basically doing this as a gap year.

How do I get my foot in the door? I have a reasonably strong background in maths, physics and economics (equivalent to an average undergraduate who has just finished first year). Obviously I have no proof of these statements but then again why would I lie. I currently trade currencies profitably, don't know if this helps at all.

Anyway I have a year out to do stuff before my final year at Leeds, whats the best route for me to take to get to work in a hedge fund?

Is it possible for me to get on a MSc course in financial mathematics? Or would my application be chucked in the bin.

Thanks for any help.

xxx

Why do you want to work in a HF? It seems strange as most people would go straight into AM or IBD first. Also, I don't understand why you want to do financial maths, it doesn't really have much to do with working in a HF. Having some evidence of quantitative ability is important for trading generally (although any sensible person can work out the complicated option/bond math given enough time) but saying you want to go into HFs isn't very specific. Financial maths won't be enough to work at Winton, it will be useless for long/short.

From the information above, you aren't going to get into a HF out of uni. This isn't suprising as 90% of HFs won't want someone who doesn't have a track record/exp/Phd. It would make far more sense to try to get into AM/Investment consultancy/Accountancy/IBD. Obviously, getting into any of these positions is easier than HF but still very difficult.

[facdroit]

You could become a fisherman.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/montebur...n-bill-ackman/

People really need to understand that the world of finance is all about who you know.

[sacredbat]

(Original post by crcr)
Why do you want to work in a HF? It seems strange as most people would go straight into AM or IBD first. Also, I don't understand why you want to do financial maths, it doesn't really have much to do with working in a HF. Having some evidence of quantitative ability is important for trading generally (although any sensible person can work out the complicated option/bond math given enough time) but saying you want to go into HFs isn't very specific. Financial maths won't be enough to work at Winton, it will be useless for long/short.

From the information above, you aren't going to get into a HF out of uni. This isn't suprising as 90% of HFs won't want someone who doesn't have a track record/exp/Phd. It would make far more sense to try to get into AM/Investment consultancy/Accountancy/IBD. Obviously, getting into any of these positions is easier than HF but still very difficult.

Thanks, basically investment banking doesn't really excite me and I don't really want to work 80+ hours a week. My ultimate goal is to work at a hedge fund and I certainly don't expect to get there straight out of university. What's the most realistic career path I can take to work at a hedge fund. Obviously I'd be more than happy to work in investment banking if there were no other option, but I know how competitive it is to get there in the first place, and I doubt with my degree id get in.

Thanks again for any help.

[crcr]

(Original post by sacredbat)
Thanks, basically investment banking doesn't really excite me and I don't really want to work 80+ hours a week. My ultimate goal is to work at a hedge fund and I certainly don't expect to get there straight out of university. What's the most realistic career path I can take to work at a hedge fund. Obviously I'd be more than happy to work in investment banking if there were no other option, but I know how competitive it is to get there in the first place, and I doubt with my degree id get in.

Thanks again for any help.

If investment banking doesn't excite you then some areas of HF won't. Again, what kind of HF do you want to work in? The most realistic route is probably going to be accounting then AM, you haven't given any relevant information though.

[ON A GOOD DAY]

(Original post by crcr)
Why do you want to work in a HF? It seems strange as most people would go straight into AM or IBD first. Also, I don't understand why you want to do financial maths, it doesn't really have much to do with working in a HF. Having some evidence of quantitative ability is important for trading generally (although any sensible person can work out the complicated option/bond math given enough time) but saying you want to go into HFs isn't very specific. Financial maths won't be enough to work at Winton, it will be useless for long/short.

From the information above, you aren't going to get into a HF out of uni. This isn't suprising as 90% of HFs won't want someone who doesn't have a track record/exp/Phd. It would make far more sense to try to get into AM/Investment consultancy/Accountancy/IBD. Obviously, getting into any of these positions is easier than HF but still very difficult.

Can I ask what kind of PhDs they look for? And what kind of work experience is relevant to hedge funds? I think I'd like to work for somewhere like Google or may be a tech startup but finance/trading also seems interesting...

[crcr]

(Original post by ON A GOOD DAY)
Can I ask what kind of PhDs they look for? And what kind of work experience is relevant to hedge funds? I think I'd like to work for somewhere like Google or may be a tech startup but finance/trading also seems interesting...

I don't know sciencey ****...comp sci, machine learning, physics...look at listings here: https://www.wintoncapital.com/#/careers/opportunities as they do a lot of hiring in the area.

It depends on work exp., if you want to work in distressed debt then credit AM, restructuring in IBD/Accountancy. If you want to work in long/short then equity AM or Accountancy. If you want to work in macro, S&T in IB or prop. There isn't a formula.

[fail@maths]

Get into AM on a grad scheme => go into a HF => become a HFM => enjoy god status!

[rangervoong]

1.you don't study a certain subject to work in a specific place.
2.you study certain subjects for a specific job.
3. MSc Financial Maths are for those who generally want to be Quants.
4. You NEED a numerical undergraduate degree as it is a prerequisite for the MSc Financial Maths.
5. To work in a hedge fund you need to know what role you want to do, I'm sure your ideal job in a hedge fund isn't secretarial work, and is closer to operations (the trading)

6. if you're doing med, and you paying extensive amounts of money you should finish it if you're almost done or you wish to quit, go do a undergraduate math degree.